The laboratory of the mind : thought experiments in the natural sciences / James Robert Brown.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brown, James Robert.

Series:

Philosophical issues in science.

Philosophical issues in science series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physics--Philosophy.

Physics.

Quantum theory.

Science--Methodology.

Science.

Rationalism.

Knowledge, Theory of.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (190 p.)

Edition:

Paperback ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 1993, c1991.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Thought experiments are performed in the laboratory of the mind. Beyond this metaphor it is difficult to say just what these remarkable devices for investigating nature are or how they work. Though most scientists and philosophers would admit their great importance, there has been very little serious study of them. This volume is the first book-length investigation of thought experiments. Starting with Galileo's argument on falling bodies, Brown describes numerous examples of the most influential thought experiments from the history of science. Following this introduction to the subject, s

Contents:

BOOK COVER; HALF-TITLE; TITLE; COPYRIGHT; DEDICATION; CONTENTS; PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; 1 ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE LABORATORY OF THE MIND; 2 THE STRUCTURE OF THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS; 3 MATHEMATICAL THINKING; 4 SEEING THE LAWS OF NATURE; 5 EINSTEIN'S BRAND OF VERIFICATIONISM; 6 QUANTUM MECHANICS: A PLATONIC INTERPRETATION; AFTERWORD; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-172) and index.

ISBN:

1-134-86579-1

1-134-86580-5

1-280-14862-4

9786610148622

0-203-97915-X

9780203979150

OCLC:

475946308